WRECK AT CHATHAM ISLANDS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 266, 30 July 1918, Page 6

WRECK AT CHATHAM ISLANDS

4 — NO LIVES LOST STEAMER HIMITANGI STRIKES A REEF PROBABLE TOTAL LOSS Hinutnigi wrecked on Moeba Reef, Wailnugi. AY est, f».30 a.m. Monday j probable fcotul loss; vessel full water. All hands safe. Full report later.

The first intimation oi' the wreck of tho Chatham Islands Fishing Company's steamer Himitangi (323 Ions) at the Ch'alliiim islands was Hie above wireless message received by Mr. E. F; G. Zohrnb, shipping agent, Wellington, at 3.25 p.m. yesterday. Tho Himitangi left Wellington at noon oil Tuesday last for Lytteltou, finally sailing from the southorn port with passengers and a big cargo for Waitangi, Kaingaroa, and Owenga (Chatham Islands) at 10 p.m. on Thursday. Arrival was made at Waitangi on Sunday. It was when the vessel wa» en route from Waitangi to liaiugaron that the mishap occurred.

Mocha Keel' is eastward of Cape Young (tho jiorth-western extremity). Tho shore in thjs locality is scattered irith rocks, which are dry at low water.

The master of the Himitangi is Captain J. Thompson, who has been in that command fpi-jibouf, three yews. Mr. J. Muir is lirst officer and Mr. W. M'Kinuon second. .Mr. N. Walker is chief engineer and Mr. W. Ozamis second. Mr. J. White is steward and Mr. A. Mot/, cool;.' The crew comprised five sailors and three firemen.

Arrangements ore now in hand for tho early dispatch of a relief steamer to bring ihe officers* and crew to their homes in Now Zealand. The urgent need of a steamer to maintain the connection between New Zealand and the Islands is also untie? discussion.

Tito Himitangi is a steel screw steamer, 136 ft. long, with a beam 2'lft., and a ■draught of 9ft. She was built at Paisley, Scotland, by Messrs. J. Fullerton and Co. in 1899, for Messrs. Levin and Co., AVellington. She was engined by Messrs. Muir and Houston, of Glasgow. Tho vessel was for a long t.imo employed i.i the coastal trade, more particularly on the Wost Coast between Foxton, Wanganui, Westport, Greymouth, and "Wellington. She was a. good type of ship, and had roomy accommodation for 2is passengers. In May of 1911 she was sold to her present owners, who fitted lier with refrigerating machinery,,and, insulated one of the holds for the 'carriage of fish from the company's factory and storo at Waitangi. In this occupation the vessel has siuee maintained a regular \>argo and passenger service between AVellington, Lyttclton, and the island ports. Previous to the entrance of tho Himitangi into this run, tho NewZealand Trawling and Fish Supply Co.'s trawler Nora Niven was under charter to tho Chatham Islands Fishing Co. for the transport of fish cargoes. A Previous Mishap. This is not tho first occasion on which the Himitangi has been in trouble at the Islands. Early in the morning of I'ebruai-v It, 1912, when aehoral m Waitangi roadstead, the.ship drifted on to (ho boach in a strong breeze and heavy surf, through the cables parting. Caplain Cowan, now of the Canterbury Steamship Company's Breeze was then in command, but when tho fact that tho ship way drifting was reported to lum it was too lale to prevent the vessel from grounding on a sandy bo I torn. I'or nearly seven weeks the Himitangi remained there, hard and fast. ,It was at I p.m. on March 28 that, assisted by Messrs. Levin and Co.'s steamer Gertie, the ITiniitiitigi refloated. The damage rein prised o few slackened rivets in (he 1-e'el plates and the Msnn in the stokehold. Temporary repairs were effected, land the Himitangi returned to Mellmg'ton under her own steam.

A Serious Loss. Some idea of how serious is the loss of the Himilangi, not only lo the owners, but to tiie entire population who depend upon her as the only link of communication with .New Zealand, is gained when H is taken into considerstioti that on her regular arrivals with full cargoes of general merchandise, and more especially departures, with frozen fish the. livelihood of a large number of the inhabitants of tho Islands de--IKWitll the ruling high rates for 'tonnage it will be an expensive proposition tor the company to purchase another steamer such as the Himitangi, and it is quite likely that ercat difficulty will be experienced in doinsr ?o, owing to there# not being many ressels of so suitable a class in Iheso waters. The Ship's Graveyard. The Chatham Islands have been the graveyard of many sailing vessels since the early days of New Zealand. The coast is ragged, giving, except ill one or two cases, no places for a safe anchorage. The history of the wrecks of trading schooners and whaling vessels on its short coastline is a tragic one. Foreigngoing sailers, with wool clips and other cargo, bound from New Zealand to England and the Continent, have often ended their careers near its shores. Wrecks at the Chathams are, eo the reports show, generally hopeless, and only in one case, that of the ship Jessie Eeadman, bound to London with wool from New Zealand, was the whole of the cargo saved. f

Writing of Hall Caine's new ploy, "The Prime Minister," a- London correspontk>nt savs: —"This play should never havo been written. It should' never havo been put on at ii juncture like (his. It is full of the worst form of sentiment of which Mr. Hull Came can bo guilty. .Vi-* Kthei Irving has a new ills' part, such as she delights in, and I suppose (lint Mr. Caine, in writing the- play, thought only of hoi- skill in portraying emotional drama. The prologue bring;! you into the room of the Prime Minister, Mr. Hsilliird, where tho Cabinet is sitting awaiting thn answer of lierlra to the ultimatum sent by England lo Germany before the declaration of war in August, 1914. The fateful message comes, and then the drama deals with moro personal interests in the introduction into tho Minister's home of ;i governess, Margaret Schiller (Ethel Irving), whose German father had been sentenced to flojtli for treason. Though the girl is impersonating someone olse, her disguise is seen through; but the Minister, informing her that her father died in prison, retains her services after putting her on her honour to beliavo properly. Itowcver, Margaret returns to the Schiller family's house, where she joins German conspirators drawing lots for the assassination of her employer. Tho lot falls upon her brother, whom she admit* to the house, and then, stepping quiekly into the line of fire, dies in the Prime Minister's arms, entreating him to kiss her "as ho has proved himself a good man." The statesman lets the murderer go free on the 'ground that he has created for himself a hell which is a far larger thing than any law could have condemned him to. The acting was exceedingly fine; but it was a. wretched play. False sentiment is a thing that raises one's gull, and I was impatient at every scene in this most mistaken production." At the funeral at Ashford (Kent) of Mr. J. Itossiter, the mourners included seve:i wounded sons-in-law, who camo direct' from hospitals. Over 1,000,0011 women have come into employment (luring the war who were not Hum engaged previously.